Photo/Illutration Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai, center, who is also the president of the National Governors’ Association, asks Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, lower right, to compile measures against the Omicron variant at an online meeting on Feb. 1. (Etsuko Akuzawa)

The National Governors’ Association urged the central government to shift its COVID-19-prevention focus from bars and restaurants to schools and day care centers to deal with the Omicron strain of the novel coronavirus.

“We will consider improving anti-virus measures based on the characteristics of the Omicron variant,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida replied at an online meeting with members of the association on Feb. 1.

Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai, who is also the president of the association, briefed Kishida on how the highly contagious variant is spreading among children at schools, day care centers and homes, and creating cluster infections at facilities for elderly people.

“I want the government to quickly present countermeasures by taking into account these characteristics (of the variant),” Hirai said to Kishida.

The prime minister urged the association to speed up the rollout of COVID-19 booster shots, set up more medical facilities and oxygen stations and strengthen local governments’ capability to deal with infected patients recuperating at home.

“It was a very productive meeting,” Hirai told reporters. “I understand that the government also intends to create an environment for governors to take measures against Omicron according to the circumstances of their jurisdictions.”

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